Empacher Canada & USA

Semi-finals at Shunyi

Canadian Men's 8

Racing has been furious on the Shunyi racing course just north of Beijing.
Conditions have been flat with the odd puff of head wind but the main issue has been the brutal heat. Rain washed races out for the Thursday races which have been rescheduled for Friday. Rainer Empacher, Helmut Empacher, Julian, Werner, Toni and myself have been rigging, fixing, repairing, adjusting and giving polish lessons (wax on... wax off young grasshopper).

The facility is terrific, the weed swimmers are keeping boats clear of weeds and the sun peeks through the haze every once in a while to make it even more hot. Athletes are of course absolutely amazing and nice even though they are under the most pressure they could possibly be under. Making sure their equipment is absolutely perfect is a great challenge and learning experience with some coaches and crews wanting polished boats and others wanting boats wet-sanded. Having coaches like Jurgen Groebler and Harald Jarling stop by for coffee is a wonderful experience, and one that I am gaining a tremendous amount from.

After semifinals for the sunday events, athletes rowing Empacher boats have continued to dominate A final qualifying positions.
Women's 1x
USA, BEL, BUL, POL, CHN, CZE
Men's 1x
SWE, BEL, NOR
Men's 2-
GER
Women's 2-
CHN, GBR, ROM, BEL
Men's 2x
EST, GBR
Women's 2x
USA, GBR, CHN
Men's 4-
GBR, AUS, FRA, GER, SLO
Women's 4x
USA, CHN, AUS, GBR,
Women's 8
USA, ROM, AUS, GBR, NED
Men's 8
CAN, GBR, POL, NED, AUS

38 of 48 starting boats are Empacher shells representing 80% of A finalists so far.

still to be decided friday are
Men's L4-
Women's L2x
Men's L2x
Men's 4x

Check in after saturday for pics and postings from finals.